Sunday, April 15, 2018 7:20 pm

Completion of Bristol race postponed to Monday

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Tenn. – NASCAR says the completion of the Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway has been postponed until Monday.

The postponement comes just 46 laps shy of the race becoming official.

NASCAR hopes to complete the final 296 laps of the 500-lap race on Monday, but there is also a chance for more rain — and possibly even some snow. Otherwise, the race will resume at 1 p.m.

Kyle Larson is the leader.

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4:15 p.m.

Well, that stint of green-flag racing didn't last long.

The Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway has been red-flagged for a third time due to weather just 46 laps shy of it becoming an official race. In all, 214 of the 500 laps have been complete.

But this band of rain appears as though it may last quite a long time based on the radar.

Kyle Larson was strong on the last green-flag run and has led 74 laps in all. Denny Hamlin is second and Paul Menard third.

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4 p.m.

The cars are back on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway and action has resumed with 332 laps remaining the race following a second red-flag delay because of rain.

NASCAR is hoping to get the race in before another heavy band of rain enters the area shortly.

The race won't be considered official until the drivers can complete 250 of the 500 laps.

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3:30 p.m.

Rain has caused NASCAR to pull the cars off the track again at Bristol Motor Speedway on lap 165. The race won't be considered official unless the drivers can complete 250 of the 500 laps.

Heavy rain remains in the forecast all day. NASCAR is nevertheless drying the track again.

Erik Jones, who is looking for his first Cup Series victory , leads the race, followed by Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Paul Menard and William Byron.

Five cars are behind the wall, including that of Ryan Blaney, who led 99 of the first 119 laps. Also behind the wall are the cars of Chris Buescher, Harrison Rhodes, Michael McDowell and Ross Chastain.

Kyle Busch started on the pole but has struggled for most of the race and is in ninth place.

"It's hard to get a rhythm going with this many cautions and delays," Busch said. "We need to get the weather out of here if we can."

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3:05 p.m.

Ryan Blaney led 99 laps of 119 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway before getting caught up in a wreck that left his car in shambles.

It happened on Turn 3 when the lap traffic of Chris Buescher and Trevor Bayne got tangled up in front of Blaney. The No. 12 Ford had nowhere to go and was swept up in the wreck. His car was taken behind the wall and Blaney was done for the day.

"I couldn't see it happen until I came up on it," Blaney said. "We got held up in lap traffic. People not clear and it took us out."

Brad Keselowski won a one-lap shootout to take the first stage of the race. Ryan Newman was second and Clint Bowyer third after 125 laps.

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2:40 p.m.

NASCAR has lifted the red flag for rain, and the cars are back on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Ryan Blaney has led 59 of the first 76 laps as NASCAR tries to beat the rain. The drivers need to complete 250 of the 500 scheduled laps for the race to be complete.

Pole sitter Kyle Busch has contended with a loose car all day and is struggling to stay in the top 10.

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2:20 p.m.

The red flag is out at Bristol Motor Speedway after 49 laps because of rain. Ryan Blaney is the early leader.

The race started about 30 minutes later than planned amid a forecast that includes a 100 percent chance of rain.

There was an early wreck on the third lap. Ross Chastain and Michael McDowell took the brunt of the damage, but the crash also resulted in damage for seven other cars including Chase Elliott's and Martin Truex Jr.'s. However, Chastain and McDowell were the only ones whose cars have gone behind the wall.

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1:55 p.m.

The Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway has begun and it took only three laps before the first wreck.

Ross Chastain took the brunt of the damage, but the crash also resulted in damage for eight other cars including Michael McDowell's and Chase Elliott's. Chastain's is the only car that had to go behind the wall.

Martin Truex Jr.'s car also was damaged, but unlike the other three, he did not lose a lap.

Pole sitter Kyle Busch has the early lead.

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1:50 p.m.

The Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway has begun amid a forecast that includes a heavy dose of rain.

The race started about 30 minutes later than planned as NASCAR worked to dry the half-mile track after morning rain.

However, it remains unclear if the rain will hold off long enough to get the race in. The forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of rain Sunday.

There will be a competition caution after 45 laps to reassess the track.

Drivers must complete 250 of the 500 laps for the race to be considered official.

Kyle Busch has the pole and is looking for his second straight Cup Series victory.

Kurt Busch, who was expected to start alongside younger brother Kyle on the front row, will start at the back of the field after wrecking his primary car in practice Saturday.

Erik Jones has been strong all week in practice and is looking for his first career win in NASCAR's top series, while seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson looks to snap a 30-race win drought.

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12:55 p.m.

NASCAR is hoping the Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway will be run on Sunday despite a wet forecast.

The race had been scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., but driver introductions were pushed back about 25 minutes. NASCAR is attempting to dry the track after heavy morning rain subsided.

However, the forecast still calls for steady rain through Monday morning.

Kyle Busch has the pole and is looking for his second straight Cup Series victory.

Kurt Busch, who was expected to start alongside younger brother Kyle on the front row, will start at the back of the field after wrecking his primary car in practice Saturday.

Erik Jones has been strong all week in practice and is looking for his first career win in NASCAR's top series, while seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson looks to snap a 30-race win drought.

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10:45 a.m.

Pole sitter Kyle Busch is looking for his second straight Cup Series win Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, although Mother Nature could have a say in that.

NASCAR has moved the start up by one hour to 1 p.m. in hopes of getting the race in, but the forecast calls for rain all day.

If the race is postponed, it would be run Monday.

Kurt Busch, who was expected to start alongside younger brother Kyle on the front row, will start at the back of the field after wrecking his primary car in practice Saturday.

Erik Jones has been strong all week in practice and is looking for his first career win in NASCAR's top series, while seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson looks to snap a 30-race win drought.